Competition Just finished my traction bars...

[JFlagg]

Due to a couple peoples interest in a set of bars like mine, they requested some more detailed pictures, so here they are...

The first 2 are of the front mount viewed from inside the frame and out. The last pic is of the rear mount.

 

[JFlagg]

And some more...

And some shots of the rear... And don't worry, when I take them off to paint, I'll round that lowest point on the rear mount to smooth it out and get alittle more clearance. I might round all the corners just for the hell of it... . :-laf

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Have someone video you when your pulling from the side. I hate to tell you this but I'm pretty sure your going to find those bars will bend a lot. 1/4" wall tubing under compression is going to flex quite a bit. I've seen it at the pulls many times. You'd be far better off with 1/2" wall.

 

[BigBadDodge]

I am gonna have to agree with Steve the 1/4" prolly won't hold up especially at 66" long. Have you hooked it yet ?



BBD

 

[JFlagg]

Not yet, though, me and a buddy where talking about axle wrap and which way the pinion rotated, up or down? I was under the impression that mounted under the axle it would be pulled on, do I have this backwards and it will be "compressed" therefore flexing it? I was thinking if it flexed I could get another tube and sleeve it or build another mount that attached higher up and give it a third attaching point. Though, so far just racing it has worked great, went from spinning 2nd, 3rd and chirping 4th sometimes to chirping 2nd and just flat getting it. Though, its hard to see what flex you have from the drivers seat... Though, coming from two sources like Steve and Scott, I would tend to trust your experience. Thanks for the input though, would be embarassing to be pulling and have a bar or two kink in half... . seen that before.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Yes you have it backwards. It'll be compressed and will most likely curve downward - that's how I've always seen them bend. In order for them to be in tension they have to be mounted above the axle - that is where mine attach.

 

[R_Painter]

when I did mine the local steel shop did not have any 1 1/2 X 1/2 tube in stock so I took 1 x 1/4 slide it inside the 1 1/2 x 1/4 pipe and welding the tractor ends on the 1 inch pipe sticking out the end not a problem yet plus with me using the 3 point hitch bar from a tractor it is fully adjustable

 

[Spunkys Ram]

Yes you have it backwards. It'll be compressed and will most likely curve downward - that's how I've always seen them bend. In order for them to be in tension they have to be mounted above the axle - that is where mine attach.

So with this in mind it seems like the 3rd genners have the benefit with the u-bolts being on top of the axle.